Box Score OKLAHOMA CITY – The Texas Wesleyan Volleyball team (24-8) took the 2019 SAC Tournament Runner-up after falling 3-1 (25-21, 16-25, 27-29, 20-25) to No. 18 Oklahoma City (33-1) at Abe Lemons Arena on Saturday.
The Volleyball program secured its third straight (11th all-time) berth to the NAIA National Championship. Opening Round matches will take place at host sites all around the country on Saturday, Nov. 23. The qualifiers and match-ups will be revealed on Monday, Nov. 18 at 10 a.m. CST.
Madison Lopez and
Arianna Alvarado were selected to the SAC All-Tournament team. Lopez tallied 73 digs, while Alvarado notched 42 kills during the tournament
In set one, the Lady Rams hung around and picked the right moment to charge ahead for the win. Trailing by five at 12-7, TXWES scratched and clawed its way to 17-17 tie after a
Sydney Charlton kill made way for back-to-back blocks from
McKayla Flowers and
Veronika Webb. That was the beginnings of an 8-0 rally, capped on a
Morgan Burns service ace to give the Lady Rams a 22-17 lead.
Brittni Mohle made it set point with a crafty kill, and another Flowers, Webb block put the team on in the driver's seat at 1-0.
The Stars answered quickly in the second set, jumping out to a 7-1 advantage. Oklahoma City managed to control the set, keeping a five-spot or better on the Rams for most of the set. OCU went on an 8-4 run to end the set and tie the match a one apiece.
It took extra points to decide the crucial third set, as each team hit their stride. The set was tied 17 times in a highly entertaining, closely contested set with the Stars edging out the win, 29-27. All knotted up at 16-16, the Lady Rams went on a 7-4 run capped on an Alvarado kill for a 23-20 lead. A Stars kill and ace, followed by a TXWES mishap, quickly tied the set and the two teams traded blows from there. A
Brenda Pargas ace made it a 26-25 Ram advantage, but a Lacy Beeler and the Stars found just a bit more favor with a raucous home crowd in-tow to top the set for a 2-1 match lead.
The fourth proved to be another close one, as the Stars clung to the slightest of leads throughout the set.
Chastiny Brown and the Lady Rams tied the set at 11 apiece after she laced a front row smash, but OCU weathered the blow. A 7-1 run from the Stars gave the host team some breathing room at 18-13, and made the most of it. OCU found the formula, led by Beeler, to take the set and a 3-1 match win for its fourth consecutive championship.
Morgan Burns had a great match, posting the first double-double in a Ram uniform with 21 assists and 12 digs. Alvarado led the attack for the Rams with 14 kills. Webb and Brown contributed 11 kills each to the effort. Webb was also in on five blocks, as was Flowers. Pargas posted 24 assists.
Madison Lopez was impressive with 26 digs.
The program celebrated win number 1000 all-time this season, a straight set win over Science & Arts in the regular season finale.
The team will play in the 40th Annual Volleyball National Championship Opening Round on Saturday, Nov. 23. Opponent and time TBD.
